Load binding winch



Aug. 27, 1963 FIG. l

R. H. GRAY LOAD BINDING WINCH Filed Nov. 21, 1960 IN VEN TOR. ROBERT H.GRAY TTORNEY United States Patent O 3,101,927 LGAD BENDING WINCH RobertH. Gray, 4420 NE. Maywood Place,

' Portland, Oreg. Filed Nov. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 70,744 1 Claim. (Cl.254-161) different positions and yet to be capable of efficientoperation.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide abinding winch of the type described employing a novel ratchet and pawlarrangement which functions in any position of mounting of the bindingwinch to operate a winding shaft in one direction.

Another object is to provide a load binding winch which is simple instructure, inexpensive to manufacture, and rugged in operation.

Briefly stated, the invention resides in a winch structure employing anintegrated arrangement of elements comprising a U-sh-aped body portion,a windin shaft journaled in the body portion, and a ratchet and pawlassembly operative on the winding shaft to provide controlled rotationthereof.

The ratchet and pawl have an improved arrangement and structure wherebyto facilitate the controlled rotation of the winding shaftin anyposition of mounting of the winch, and also to facilitate easy controlof said ratchet assembly in setting and releasing the same.

The invention Will be better understood and additional objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferredform of the device. It is to be understood, however, that the inventionmay take other forms and that all such modifications and variationswithin the scope of the appended claim which will occur to personsskilled in the art are included in the invention.

In the drawings: 4

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of thepresent load binding winch;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view showing in particular the ratchet and pawlassembly, taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and V FIGURE 4- is asectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the present load bindingwinch comprises a body portion which is U-shaped in configuration,having a base 12 and a pair of integral spaced and parallel side wallsor arms 14 and 16. The juncture between the side walls and base isreinforced by triangular web portions 18. Base 12 has bottom aperturesfor the reception of fastening means if desired to attach the winch to avehicle bed.

Iournaled in the side walls 14, 16 is a winding shaft 20 which projectsbeyond the outer ends of said walls, the latter having suitableapertures for the journaled reception of the shaft ends. The shaftcarries a book 24 intermediate its ends which, as best seen in FIGURE 4,has a recessed front edge 26 for engagement by the end portion of acable.

One projecting end of the winding shaft 20 integrally carries anapertured lever engaging drum 26 for rotating the winding shaft. Theopposite end of the shaft 23 in thereof taken Eddifiii? PatentedAug. 27,1963 ice tegrally carries a ratchet wheel 30 associated with a pawl anaperture 38 in an upwardly projecting tab 40 of an end housing 42.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the pawl element 32 has a tooth 44 engageablewith the teeth of the ratchet wheel. This tooth is directed laterallyand oifset from the aXis of pin 34 whereby when it engages the frontedge of a tooth on the ratchet wheel 30, the latter is anchored againstrotation in the one direction. Pawl element 32 also has an outwardlyprojecting finger grip or handle 46 by which it is rotatably operatedbetween operative and inoperative positions.

Pawl element 32 also has a downwardly projecting edge portion 43engageable with a leaf spring 56 supported at its opposite ends onconfining shoulders 52 interiorly 0f the housing 42. Housing 42 has anopening 53- intermediate the shoulders 52 to permit downward flexing ofthe spring 50.

The arrangement and structure of the pawl element 32 and spring 50 aresuch that said pawl element is movable between'a pair of over-centerpositions, shown in full and dotted lines in FIGURE 3. In the full lineposition of the pawl, the spring 56 maintains it in operative engagementwith the ratchet wheel 36 to permit the latter to rotate in onedirection and lock it against rotation in the other direction. Such isthe set position of the pawl element when the shaft 20 is being wound tocinch a cable around the load. When it is desired to release the shaft20 for unwinding of the cable the shaft is rotated sufficiently to clearthe pawl tooth 44 from the ratchet wheel and the pawl element 32 rotatedto its other overcenter position, shown in dotted lines.

, The spring 56 thus is adapted to hold the pawl element in itsoperative position with the ratchet wheel regardless of themountedposition of the binding winch on the vehicle bed. That is, the winch maybe located in either a horizontal or vertical position and yet bepositive in operation. Also, when the winding shaft is being unwound thepawl upon being moved to its other overcenter or inoperative positionwill remain in an out-ofthe-way position.

It will thereby'be seen that the present invention cornprises asimplified and relatively inexpensive load binding winch which isconvenient to operate and positive in operation. The body portion 19,together with the end housing 42, are preferably cast as one piece toprovide a rigid and rugged winch frame.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may beused, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A load binding winch adapted for mounting on a vehicle bed comprising abase adapted to be attached to the vehiclebed, a pair of spaced armsintegrally projecting from said base, a winding shaft journaled in saidarms, means on said shaft for rotating the same, a ratchet wheel securedto said shaft, a housing on said base having a portion aligned with saidratchet wheel, said housing having a pair of spaced shoulders thereonseparated by an opening in the portion aligned with said ratchet wheel,a leaf spring spanning said opening and supported at its ends on saidshoulders, a pawl on said base between said leaf spring and said ratchetwheel and having a tooth portion operatively engagea-ble with saidratchet wheel, said pawl being pivotally mounted for movement between aratchet engaging position and -a ratchet release position, a firstprojection on said pawl extending laterally therefrom and comprising afinger engaging portion for manually pivoting the pawl, a secondprojection on said pawl extending toward said leaf spring in a directionopposite from said tooth portion, said sec- 3 0nd projection terminatingin an edge portion, said leaf spring being engaged by the edge portionof said pawl, said pawl being positioned operably by said spring eitherin said ratchet engaging position or said ratchet release position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,106,995 Verner Aug. 11, 1914 4 Napier et a1. Feb. 22, 1916 Pahlke Mar.4, 1916 Eggleston Apr. 4, 1916 Haferkorn June 27, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTSGermany June 14, 1883 Austria Nov. 25, 1911

